Come What May and Love It

Tonight, we had a special stake meeting.  A new ward was created in our stake and the boundaries of our ward were redrawn in a major way.  As in about half of our ward is now gone, including our bishop who was released today.  Talk about a knock out punch.  Out of our presidency in young womens, I am the only one who is left in the ward and I don't have a clue if I will be called back to YW or to something different.  We are sharing our building with the newly created ward which means we will move to 11am church.  It also means we will still see some of our old members which is a bonus.  I never realized how much shake up there is when creating a new ward.  It is pretty crazy.
I can still remember the first time we met our bishop at a softball game and he told us how much we would love the Windsor Lake ward.  He wasn't wrong.  I have loved being in this ward and even with all the changes, I'm still going to love it.  As hard as it is to see so many people I've come to love so much leave our ward, I know the Lord's hand is in it.  These are just growing pains.  I truly feel that in my heart.  I know the Lord has broken us down so we can build ourselves back up even stronger than before.  Our ward may be a lot smaller than before but it won't be that way for long. There are so many people he is preparing to accept the gospel into their lives.  It is a blessing that he trusts us to be the ones to find them.
I am reminded of the words of Elder Wirthlin, "Come what may and love it."  I know that is the way to happiness.  

A Birthday and a Belly!

Saturday night we went out with Mike and Jenn and some friends to celebrate Jenn's birthday.  It was so much fun!  We split the table into guys and girls and just chatted and laughed the entire time.   It was really nice to actually get dressed up and go out as well.  I've gotten so slack about that kind of stuff lately.  I got my hair cut three weeks ago and people are just now noticing because I think I've only worn it down once since then.  Because of this, I never really feel like having my picture taken and documenting my hastily done make up, air dried pony tail, ect... Saturday though, I made a point to have Cory take a couple belly pictures before we left. 

26 weeks.

Me and my silly husband.  He loves giving himself crazy facial hair.  It usually only survives for a night though.

After we ate dinner we had planned to go back to Mike and Jenn's for cake and icecream but I just wasn't up to it.  Since it was a special occasion I went all out and ordered the strawberry peach lemonade.  It was really yummy but also a mistake.  I was feeling terrible by the time we got the check.  Sugary drinks just do not sit well with me at night I have discovered.  Luckily there wasn't another fiasco.  We just went home and chilled on the couch watching Clemson's ridiculous comeback victory.  I still can't stand Clemson, but it was pretty impressive.  Well, the parts I wasn't asleep for were. 

Sunday was wonderful.  Everyone at church was telling me how good I looked and it just made me feel so much better after all those terrible elevator conversations this week.  I really love my ward!  It is full of so many fabulous people who do their best to lift each other up every Sunday.  I've realized over and over that even though this wasn't where Cory and I planned to be, this is the place the Lord knew we needed to be all along.  I'm so grateful for His guiding hand in my life and the countless blessing that have come into my life because of it.

Conference Thoughts

Basically, I love conference. It is so relaxing and uplifting. It has been just wonderful to snuggle up to my husband and listen to the words of living prophets. This conference, I couldn't stop thinking about how grateful I am for that. We have a LIVING gospel and prophets who have been called to receive revelation specifically for us. I loved Elder Hollands talk. He always makes me cry, but his message was so true. The spirit will teach us the things we need to know if we just listen. Every time I thought I had picked a favorite talk, the next one would change my mind. I should just give up trying to pick a favorite! Elder Scott's talk was up there though. Hearing church leaders speak about their wives gets me every time. He is my favorite apostle because I always feel like his messages apply so much to my life. Cory says I shouldn't have a favorite when it come to apostles but I just can't help it. Since there is no difference in my love for the apostles, I think it is okay. I feel so good and can't wait to tackle all kinds of things and become an even more dedicated Latter Day Saint. Not just a follower of Christ, but a disciple.

Inspiration

Today a coworker and I were talking about a facebook post about some verses in Proverbs. It was paraphrased and she wondered aloud what the exact wording of the verse was. Of course I then went to LDS.org to look it up. I can't say how much I love the scriptures being online. I started just reading the verses in question but the rest were so good, I finished out the chapter. In the verses is described a virtuous woman. Reading about her, I felt a bit like Elizabeth Bennett thinking to myself "I never saw such a woman." At the same time though, I feel inspired to become at least as much like her as I can.

Proverbs 31:10-31
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her ahands.
14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She ariseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Wouldn't it be just lovely to have someone say such things about you? I think so. :)

I Like Lists

It's true. I think that is going to be my default blog method from now on. I keep waiting to have one big thing happen that will link everything we do together, but it just doesn't happen. So my solution is to make lists. Here it goes again.



Recently in the Watts House:


1. I took Cory to the Original Pancake House for part of our Valentines date. He has never been and it is too yummy of a place not to experience. He really liked it and is already talking about going back.


2. I am now a reformed sugarholic. I never thought I would see the day I went without candy, but it has arrived. And you know what? I don’t even miss it that much! I also don’t miss the 15 pounds I’ve lost since cutting it out (even though I did sneak in a Cupcake on Valentines).

3. I have been introduced to The Pioneer Woman. She is awesome. No joke. Cory bought Pioneer Woman Cooks for me for Valentines (yes, I am a girl who can be romanced with books) and I LOVE it. She is so funny and practical and all the recipes look absolutely delicious and have step by step instructions with pictures for every step! I can’t wait to start trying them out and I would definitely recommend it.


4. Subsequently, I am now dying to read The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels—A Love Story.


5. Cory has a work truck. This is a HUGE blessing for us because they pay for his gas and we can finally sell his moody Explorer. He is pretty excited to be driving around in the big snazzy thing too.

6. I have been released from my church calling as a Primary teacher. It is kind of weird, but I had started to feel like I was finished with that calling. Not in a “Wow, I’m so sick of this way” more like that whatever I was supposed to get from that calling had been accomplished. So it was really no surprise when Brother Duncan asked me to be the…

7. Second councilor in the Young Women! I am so excited and nervous about my new calling. The girls are so sweet and I have a ton of adorable little beehives. Luckily I am accustomed to having the largest class from my time in primary. What I have learned so far is how much I have to learn. The other women in the presidency are just so great and I am really looking forward to learning the ropes with them.

8. We have had free weekends. I have missed them so much! It is kind of sad how happy being able to go grocery shopping on a Saturday makes me.

9. I have been trying to temper my novel reading with more serious literature. I didn't go too heavy to start with because I like to read very quickly. I still haven't finished it but the book I chose is Notorious Royal Marriages by Leslie Carroll. I have to say that I have really enjoyed it. Each chapter is about a different royal couple and it goes in chronological order so it connects together even though it is usually switching countries. I have definitely learned a lot.

And there you have it! Our life in a list. :)

Hot Dog!

Last Sunday I was teaching my 5 year olds at church a lesson about being kind to animals. Sometimes lessons have things in them that I don't really know how to teach to five year old. The fact that Noah brought 7 of each clean animals so they could eat them makes sense to me at 24, but I'm not sure how my 5 year old self would have felt about that. Regardless, I charge forward and explain to children that sometimes killing animals is necessary for food and that is okay, but we should never kill an animal we won't eat. For some reason, I decide to ask the kids "What animals do you eat for food?" thinking they may say things like "cows" "chicken" "fish" ect. Well the first one to answer says excitedly "Dogs! We eat dogs!" I was literally speechless at this point. I just looked at the other teacher in the room in shock until he says "You know, corn dogs!" and then the boy beside him says "And hot dogs!" At this point I just want to burst out laughing. They were both so excited to answer the question and were doing so with absolute sincerity. It is called a corn dog so it must be made of dog, right?? I did my best to explain to them that we only call them that without going into detail of what hot dogs are actually made of because I don't think any of us really want to know. Kids sure know how to keep things interesting!

It's All in the Timing...

I am late for pretty much everything. Work, family get togethers, and basically anything with a start time. I am so bad about being late that in the four months we have lived in our new ward, we had not been on time ONCE. Sad, I know. Well, this weekend I had this conviction that I needed to change that and start being on time. It was branch conference and we had been instructed to bring a main dish, side and dessert. By 10:15 all the food was cooked and the kitchen was clean which in itself is a small miracle. (some credit for this is due to my sweet husband who made the brownies. :)) I got to bed by 11:15 and woke up at 7:30 without pressing snooze once. Waking up Cory at 8:30 was a bit of a challenge (our AC isn't working so he hasn't been sleeping well lately) but by 9:28 we were rushing out of the door. We walked in right as they were going over the announcements. Not right on time, but close enough for me! As long as I don't miss any of the songs I count it! :) I was so happy to be at church and on time too! It was such a great feeling. Our bishop was the first speaker and he is just wonderful. I really hope everyone feels about their bishop the way I feel about ours. I couldn't imagine anyone doing the job better! At the conclusion of his talk he said he wanted to ask a few people to come up an give their testimonies. I actually thought to myself "I'm sure glad that's not me!" about a second before he called my name. I have never been so shocked at church in my life! Even the time a very straight laced girl cursed in Sunday school while I was in the branch did not compare. I now felt like everyone was looking at me thinking "I'm sure glad that's not me!" I went up and gave my testimony which I'm sure half the congregation could not even understand because I was so emotional. (I blame my emotionalness on Naomi, I was never like that before we were roommates!) But for me the important part was that the bishopric had given my name to the stake presidency a week before and without knowing why I just knew I needed to be at church on time that Sunday. The experience not only allowed me share my testimony with my ward but also gave me the opportunity to make that testimony even stronger. I know the Lord guides my life and will prepare me for whatever challenges come my way. I am probably in for many more "not me" moments in my life but I know that the Lord will always provide a way for me to be prepared for them, even when I don't realize it. For that I am truly grateful.

Our New Ward!

We have started going to our new ward and we both love it! Everyone is so nice and we already have callings. I am teaching CTR 5 and Cory is an assistant scout master. We are both very excited. I taught my first lesson last week and it was an adventure. I kept having to move them around during sharing time because they are very chatty but in the end I had the most reverent class. Yay me! J My nephew is in the class and he asked if he could sit in my lap and I said sure. Well, about 5 minutes later his little best friend tapped me on the shoulder and said “Sister Barber (who was their teacher last year) let two sit in her lap.” I got the hint and had two sitting in my lap through the rest of sharing time. J Class did not go quiet as well as I had hoped. I have learned quickly that to them class time means “freedom” so we are going to be having more active lessons from now on so hopefully I can actually teach them something. J I only teach every other week so I can get to know the sisters in Relief Society which is really nice. The girl I team teach with is new as well and her family will be here until May when her husband finishes a program at Fort Jackson. So after that I will be on my own. I am a little afraid of that but I also have a feeling I am really going to miss them next week.

Cory absolutely loves being involved with the scouts. He earned his Eagle when he was in scouts so he has the benefit of “been there, done that.” I think he is most excited about the camping trips. He has scouts on Wednesdays and then plays basketball, which I love because it gives me a chance to do all the girly things like watch chick flicks and organize things that I miss. It is very hard to do anything in our two tiny rooms when we are both there. I am so ready for February 6th to get here I don’t know what to do!
It is also nice being in the same ward with Cory’s brother and sister in law. Jenn is in primary with me and Mike is an assistant scout master with Cory so it is very fun. They have been so good about introducing us to new people and having us over all the time. We are definitely blessed to have them!

We went to the Elders Quorum social at the weekend and it was so much fun. We ate Barbeque and played games. It was very yummy and fun! It was so nice to meet more people from our ward and spend time with the people we already know! I am looking forward to many more exciting times there!

Here are a few snapshots from the Elders Quorum social:

It was really hard to run straight after all that spinning!

My nephew doing his crazy dance moves!

Mike and Trevor running the three legged race!

Steve and Cory in the saltines eating contest.